Frame for sheet-metal tubs



R. J. ROBERTS FRAME FOR SHEET METAL TUBS 7 Apr. 10, 1923.

Filed July 14, 1921 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 10, 1923.

- UNITD 1 'RANEY J. ROBERTS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FRAME ron SHEET-METAL TUBS. 7

Application filed July 14, 1921. Serial Ito/484,618.. i

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, RANEY J. ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county OfWayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inv Frames for Sheet- Metal Tubs, and declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit pertains, to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanyingdrawings, which? form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to frames. for sheet metal bath tubs and the object of the invention is to provide a frame built in three sections covering and protecting the joints of the tub. Another object of the invention is to provide a frame for sheet metal bath tubs which is adjustable in girth allowing the frame to be drawn up to tightly engage and support the said sheet metal tub. A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which the sections of the frame where joined together are formed to provide feet which support the tub and frame members whereby the weight of the tub and persons utilizing the same is distributed throughout the frame members and not centered at any one point. A still further object of the invention is to provide a frame built up of sections connected together the joint between each pair of sections being provided with a caster socket in which casters may be inserted to support the tub. These objects and the several novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tub and frame construction embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section through one of the caster carrying joints utilized at the right end of the tub shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. 4.

The tub 1 is made of sheet metal in the conventional form and is provided with a wooden edge rail 2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The tub is tapered upwardly at the forward end and is practically. square at the rear-end as shown. About the tub. at the forward end a metal frame member coniposedof three sect1ons, two side sections 3 and a connect ng section 4. As shown in a bifurcated end 5 through which screws may be passed securingthe frame members to the wooden rail 2. These sections 3 and 4 are each curved at 6 to cover and support Fig. 3 the sections 3 are each provided with the seam 7 which connects the sheet metal;.;.- parts of the tub together. The part-. 3 extends and is shaped to provide a.f oot.8. as shown 1n Fig. 2 and the adjacent end of the part 4 is bolted thereto by the bolts 9.

These bolts 9 may be tightened tofdrawthe;

frame parts 3 and 4 together to tighten- .gagement with the tub thus strengthening the seam and securing the frame members and feet to the tub. In this manner. the

frame -members 3 and. 1 support and strengthen.the tub at the same time protect ing the seam 7 and supporting the ,tubfat the. seam, The frame members. 10 at the opposite end ofthe tub are formed inthe same manner to support and protect the seam at this end of the tub. However the frame members 10 where joined. together embody a different construction. which is shown more particularly inFigs. 4: and 5. These frame members 10 are each provided with flat abutting faces 11. having apertures thereinv through which bolts may be passed to secure the frame members lO together. In each face 11 is formed a semi-cylindrical recess 12 which when the'parts are bolted together form a cylindrical aperture. Inserted in this aperture is a caster retaining member 13 having an annular bead therein adapted to engage in an annular groove in the caster stem 14 thus securingthe casters in the frame members. This construction is adapted for use with a tub which is adapted to be swung up on end on the casters 15 riding in ways therefor shown at 16 in Fig. 1. This tub is adapted to be swung to the dotted position shown, the casters 15 supporting the tub at one end and the stationary feet 8 supporting the tub at the opposite end. By this construction the tub is supported at each seam so that the weight of the tub and person using the same is supported at the seams on the frame members so that the strain is distributed and not centralized as would be the case were the feet fastened directly to the tub. Also by this construction the tub may be made of fairly thin sheet metal without buckling or bending at the point of attachment of the feet. By tightening on the'boltstconnecting the frame members, the frame members may be drawn to tight engagement with the-tub and as the frame members cover the seams there is no danger of the seams being dented and causing the tub to leak.

From the foregoing description it becomes evident that the invention is very simple and eflicient in operation, of few parts, strong construction and low manufacturing cost and provides a tub construction which accomplishes the objects desired. I

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is- 1. The combination with a sheet metal tub formed of several parts secured together by vseams and provided with a peripheral rail,

of a pair of frame members curved in cross section to engage against both the seam and the wall of the tub each side of the seam, said frames being secured to the rail at the upper end and the lower ends being outwardly bent out of contact With the tub, a connecting member extending across the bottom of the tub and engaging the same in like manner to the first named parts and having downwardly bent ends secured to the outwardly bent ends respectively of the frame members, the said connecting bent ends being secured together and the curved ends providing a flexible connection whereby the fastening means may bind the frames to tight engagement with the seam and tub.

2. The combination with a sheet metal tub formed of several parts secured together by means of external seams and having a wooden rail about the periphery, of a pair of frame members secured to the rail at the upper end and engaging about a seam of 'the tub, the said members being outwardly curved away from the tub at the lower end and providing feet for the tub, a connecting member extending across the bottom of the tub being outwardly curved from the tub at the ends approximately to engagement with the outwardly curved ends of the air of members, said frame members and connecting member being formed of metal, and means for securing the curved ends of the connecting member with the respective curved ends of the frame members to draw the same together and bind the frames and connecting member to the tub.

I 3. The combination with a sheet metal tub formed of several parts secured together by means of seams and having a peripheral rail, of a pair of side frame members secured to th rail at the upper end and curved in cross section, and means for drawing the frame members into contact with both the seam and exterior surface of the tub adjacent the seam on each side.

4. The combination with a sheet metal tub formed of several parts secured together by means of external seams and having a peripheral rail of a pair of side frames secured at the upper end to the rail and having a shape in cross section to engage against the seam and the surface of the tub on each side of the seam, said frame members terminating at the lower end in a part having a semi-cylindrical recess, a cross member extending across the bottom of the tub and similarly shaped to cover the seam and terminating with end portions complemental to the end portions of the side frames, means for binding the said ends of the cross member and respective ends of the frames together providing a cylindrical recess at the joint, and a caster retainer secured in the recess by the binding of the frame members together. i

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification.

RANEY J. ROBERTS. 

